Collapsible shaft for paint spray booth

ABSTRACT

The invention resides in the particular combination and arrangement of elements and especially in the provision of an improved structure having a single, co-extending drive shaft and a single shiftable member to collapse the device, so that it may more easily be removed from a roll of paint laden material.

United States Patent 1191 Hardy 1 Apr. 24, 1973 1 COLLAPSIBLE SHAFT FORPAINT [56] References Cited SPRAY BOOTH UNITED STATES PATENTS [76]slieila Hardy 400 North Avenue 1,746,976 2/1930 Wendt ..242/72.1 Dlspo py Booths, Bartlett, 1,573,183 2/1926 Mehlum ..242 72 60103 3,071,060l/l963 Forshee ..98/l15 SB [22] led: Sept 1970 Primary Examiner-GeorgeF. Mautz [21 App]. No.; 75,844 Assistant Examiner-Edward J. McCarthy IAttorney-Edward M. Apple [52] US. Cl. ..242/72, 98/l l5 SB, 242/68, [57]'ABSTRACT 242/110 The invention resides in the particular combination[51] lift. Cl. ..B65h 75/22 and arrangement of elements and especiallyin the Fleld of Search 68, 72, 1, rovision of an improved structurehaving a single (:0.

extending drive Shaft and a Single shiftable member to collapse thedevice,- so that it may more easily be removed from a roll of paintladen material.

6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Patented April 24, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet l x52 1 J 4 M/VE/VTOR 3/1 6714 HARDY 6y Patented April 24, 1973 3,729,147

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 L FL...

ATTOP/VEV COLLAPSIBLE SHAFT FOR PAINT SPRAY BOOTH This invention relatesto the art of paint spraying and has particular reference to animproved, collapsible shaft for collecting paint laden portions of adisposable paint spray curtain, such as disclosed in US. Letters Pat.Nos. 2,841,073; 2,875,680 and 3,071,060 issued to me under my previousname, Shiela M. Forshee.

An object of the invention is to generally improve paint spray boothequipment and to provide an improved device which also improves thepractice of the method disclosed in theforesaid patents previouslyissued to rne.

Another object of the invention is to provide an im proved collapsibleshaft which is constructed and arranged with but one moveable part, toobviate the possibility of loss or misuse of various moveable partsdisclosed in my previous patent.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for collecting paintladen curtain material by tightly winding the same on a collapsibleshaft and removing the same intact so that no aeration or oxidation ofthe paint laden material may occur, thereby obviating any possibility ofspontaneous combustion andconforming to the standards of the UnitedStates Fire Underwriters Association.

Another object of this invention is to provide a collapsible device forcollecting and disposing of spray curtain material after it has beenused in my process of trapping paint overspray.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spray curtain collectorwhich is constructed and arranged so that in collapsing the device, itis only necessary to shift one member to effect the collapse of thecollector.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible shaft whichmay be collapsed by shifting a single member, using a simple tool, suchas a conventional screw driver, or the like, in a simple pryingoperation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible member forcollecting paint laden spray curtain material, which is simple inconstruction, economical to manufacture, and easy to assemble anddisassemble.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the characterindicated, which is constructed and arranged so that the overspray of apaint spraying operation may not contact the working parts of thecollector.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of characterindicated, which is constructed and arranged so that fresh air may reachthe interior of the device from either end, whereby to provide betterventilation for the device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the characterindicated which greatly facilitates the collection and disposal of wet,heavily laden, sections of material used as back-drop, or curtain, forcatching the over-spray in a paint spray operation, as disclosed in myprevious patents.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible structure,which is formed primarily ofa pair of telescoping channel members, whichare supported about, and rotatable with a drive shaft element.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible shaft of thecharacter indicated which is constructed and arranged so that it cannotbe installed in the booth in collapsed or improper condition.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention willbecome more apparent as the description proceeds, reference being madefrom time to time to the accompanying drawing, forming part of thewithin disclosure, in which drawing:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a paint spray booth embodying theinvention, with parts broken away in order to show the relation of otherparts.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view with parts broken away, takensubstantially on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1, and illustrating the shaft incollapsed condition.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail of the rear lower portion of the deviceshown in FIG. 1, with the compartment cover removed and showing themeans for driving the shaft.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section taken through the device shown in FIG.2, but showing the shaft in extended and working condition.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail showing the drive end of theshaft in extended condition.

FIG. 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 2 with the shaft incollapsed condition.

FIG. 7 is a section taken substantially on the line 7 7 of FIG. 4, andshowing the shaft extended and in working condition.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it will be understoodthat in the embodiment herein disclosed, the reference character 11,indicates in general, the protective canopy in which the operator l2stands,

while using the paint spray apparatus 13 to spray a work piece 14. Itwill be understood that the canopy 11 is closed on top and on eitherside, as disclosed in my' previous patents, referred to hereinabove.

The canopy 11 is secured by any suitable means to the spray booth 15which I will now describe. The spray booth 15 consists of side members16 and 17 and a top member 18, all of which are preferably made ofmetal, and are secured to the frame members 19, 20, and 21, by weldingor other suitable means. The booth 15 is provided with an air baffle 22and an exhaust stack 23, all of which are more particularly defined inmy copending application, Ser. No. 75,843, filed Sept. 28, 1970.

The front wall 24 of the booth 15 consists of a section of fabricmaterial which is initially carried on a roll 25 above and outside ofthe booth 15. The material from the roll 25 is drawn downwardly, as at26, and under a roller 27, and then up and over a second roller 28, andthence downwardly through the area 24. From the area 24, the materialthen proceeds under a roller 29 and hence to the collapsible shaft 30,where it is collected and disposed of as previously disclosed. The area24 is the working area of the paint spray operation and is reinforced bya grid member 24A, which is preferably made of tubular members, or thelike, welded together to form the grid.

1 will now describe the collapsible shaft 30, (FIGS. 1, 2, and 3) whichcomprises the subject matter of the within disclosure.

The collapsible shaft 30 is driven by means of a drive shaft 31, whichextends longitudinally through it. The drive shaft 31 is driven by amotor 32, through a suitable gear reduction system 33,- which is mountedas at 34, at the side of the spray booth 15. The ends of the shaft 31(FIG. 3) are provided with suitable bearings 35 and 35A, which aresupported by suitable support members 35B, which are split as at 36, sothat the top portions 37 may be lifted, to free the bearings, and thedrive shaft 31 from its support. The collapsible shaft 30 may then becollapsed and the paint laden material 38 may be removed from the boothand be disposed of.

I provide in the side member 16 a viewing aperture 16A, so that theoperator may visually determine at any moment the amount of paint ladenmaterial 38, which has been collected on the collapsible shaft 30.

The collapsible shaft 30, (FIGS. 2-10) consists of a lower U shapedchannel member 39, to which is welded, at either end, the plate members40 and 41. The plates 40-41 are also welded to the shaft 31, as at 40Aand 41A. A second channel member 43, with its side walls extendingdownwardly, and of smaller width than the channel member 39, is arrangedto telescope or nest, in the channel member 39, as shown in FIGS. 2-7.Welded or otherwise secured to the side walls of the upper channelmember 43, are inverted channel members 44 and 45, which are spaced fromone another, as shown at 46, in FIGS. 2 and 4. It will be noted that thechannel member 44 and 45 extend below the drive shaft 31 and box it in.Also welded to the inside of the channel member 39 are plates 47 and 48,which serve as supports for the upper channel member 43 and the invertedchannels 44 and 45, when in extended and uncollapsed position, (FIGS. 4,and 7.) In order to collapse the shaft 30, it only necessary to shiftthe upper channel member 43 to the right (FIG. 4), so that the end ofthe channels 43-44 fall off the plate 47 (FIG. 4). At the same time theplate 48 is received between the members 44-45, in the space 46 (FIG.5). In this collapsed position the channel member 43 will be telescoped,or nested, in the lower channel member 39, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6.

In order to collapse the shaft 30, it is only necessary to insert ascrew driver 49, or other instrument, (FIG. 4) between the plate 40 andthe upper edge of the upper channel member 43 and force it in thedirection of the arrow, (FIG. 4). This permits the lower edges of themembers 43-44 to ride on the plates 47 and 48 until the plate 47 iscleared, and the plate 48 is received in the space 46, between themembers 44-45. This permits the upper channel 43 to fall and collapsesthe shaft 30. After the shaft 30 is collapsed, the entire assembly,including the paint laden material 38, is lifted from the booth. Theshaft 30 is then removed and the pain laden material 38, may then bedisposed of. Inasmuch as the shaft 30 is now collapsed, on the driveshaft 31, the elements comprising the collapsed member 30, may be easilywithdrawn from the roll of paint laden material In order to limit thelongitudinal movement of the upper channel 43 with respect to the lowerchannel member 39, I weld to the underside of the channel 43, aninverted U shaped, stop member 50. I also provide a cut out 51 in theside wall of the channel 43. The plate 41 contacts the edge of the cutout 51 when the channel 43 is moved to the right and contacts the stopmember 50, when moved to the left.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the drive shaft 31 is provided with a key way52, which engages a key on the motor shaft, so that the entire assemblyof the drive shaft 31 and the colla sible shaft mag rotate together. DIt IS believed that t e operation 0 the device is ObVlous from theforegoing description.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

l. A device for collecting a disposable spray booth curtain, comprisinga pair of elongated channel members, one of which is receivable in theother, a drive shaft co-extensive with said channel members, plateswelded to one of said channel members and to said shaft, means to hold,one of said channel members spaced from the other, and means to shiftsaid last named channel member longitudinally to release said memberfrom said holding means whereby to collapse the device.

2. The structure of cliam 1, in which one of said channel members isprovided with an inverted channel member, the sides of of which arewelded to the sides of said channel members and to the bottom of whichboxes in said drive shaft and is receivable on said holding means whensaid device is in noncollapsed condition.

3. The structure of claim 1, in which said holding means consist of atleast one plate member welded to the inside face of the said receivingchannel member.

4. The structure of claim 1, in which said receiving channel member isprovided with a plate member arranged to contact elements carried onsaid received channel to limit the relative longitudinal movementbetween said channels.

5. The structure of claim 1, in which said shaft is provided withbearings at positions beyond the ends of said channels, means to supportsaid bearings and at least one key way on said shaft arranged to receivethe key ofa power drive source.

6. The structure of claim 1, in which said channel members are normallyheld in spaced, parallel relation about said shaft and arranged toreceive thereon paint laden portions of a disposable curtain which formsone wall ofa paint spray booth.

1. A device for collecting a disposable spray booth curtain, comprisinga pair of elongated channel members, one of which is receivable in theother, a drive shaft co-extensive with said channel members, plateswelded to one of said channel members and to said shaft, means to hold,one of said channel members spaced from the other, and means to shiftsaid last named channel member longitudinally to release said memberfrom said holding means whereby to collapse the device.
 2. The structureof cliam 1, in which one of said channel members is provided with aninverted channel member, the sides of of which are welded to the sidesof said channel members and to the bottom of which boxes in said driveshaft and is receivable on said holding means when said device is innon-collapsed condition.
 3. The structure of claim 1, in which saidholding means consist of at least one plate member welded to the insideface of the said receiving channel member.
 4. The sTructure of claim 1,in which said receiving channel member is provided with a plate memberarranged to contact elements carried on said received channel to limitthe relative longitudinal movement between said channels.
 5. Thestructure of claim 1, in which said shaft is provided with bearings atpositions beyond the ends of said channels, means to support saidbearings and at least one key way on said shaft arranged to receive thekey of a power drive source.
 6. The structure of claim 1, in which saidchannel members are normally held in spaced, parallel relation aboutsaid shaft and arranged to receive thereon paint laden portions of adisposable curtain which forms one wall of a paint spray booth.